Suitcase having protective shield

ABSTRACT

A suitcase includes a luggage case having a housing and a cover member, and a protective shield attached onto the luggage case for covering and shielding the luggage case and for preventing the luggage case from being scraped and damaged by the other objects, the protective shield includes a casing member attached onto the cover member or the housing with a fastener or a frame, such as a slide fastener for covering and shielding the cover member or the housing, the casing member includes a channel for engaging with a retractable handle and for allowing the handle to be extended out of the casing member, and a fastener for selectively opening and closing the channel of the casing member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a suitcase or luggage case, and more particularly to a suitcase or luggage case including a protective shield attached onto the outer peripheral portion of the suitcase or luggage case for suitably covering or shielding the suitcase or luggage case and for preventing the suitcase or luggage case from being scraped or rubbed or ground or damaged by the other objects.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical suitcases comprise a soft body luggage case provided with a lid that is capable of pivoting outwardly of the remainder of the luggage case for entering into the interior storage space of the luggage case, and one or more handles attached to the luggage case for carrying or moving the luggage case.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,142 to Kaneko, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,759 to Shih-Chen disclose two of the typical suitcases or luggage cases each comprising a soft body luggage case for receiving or storing various objects, and a lid or cover pivotally or rotatably attached to the suitcase or luggage case for opening the suitcase or luggage case and for entering into the interior storage space of the luggage case.

However, normally, the outer peripheral surfaces or portions of the typical suitcases or luggage cases are exposed and are not covered or shielded with any protective shield covering and may be easily contacted and scraped or rubbed or ground or damaged by the other objects.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,487 to Plath, U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,306 to Carrigan, Jr., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,579 to Bieber et al. disclose three further typical suitcases or luggage cases each also comprising a soft body luggage case and a lid or cover pivotally or rotatably attached to the suitcase or luggage case, one or more wheels attached to the luggage cases for allowing the luggage cases to be moved to the other places, and a retractable handle attached to the luggage cases and extendible out of the luggage cases for carrying or moving the luggage cases.

However, the outer peripheral surfaces or portions of the typical suitcases or luggage cases are also exposed and are not covered or shielded with any protective shield covering and may be easily contacted and scraped or rubbed or ground or damaged by the other objects.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional suitcases or luggage cases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a suitcase apparatus including a protective shield attached onto the outer peripheral portion of the suitcase or luggage case for suitably covering or shielding the suitcase or luggage case and for preventing the suitcase or luggage case from being scraped or rubbed or ground or damaged by the other objects and for allowing the protective shield to be easily and quickly changed or replaced with the new ones when or after the protective shield has been worn out or scraped or damaged.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a suitcase apparatus comprising a luggage case including a housing having a chamber formed therein, and having a cover member pivotally attached to the housing, and a protective shield detachably attached onto an outer peripheral portion of the luggage case for covering and shielding the luggage case and for preventing the luggage case from being scraped or rubbed or ground or damaged by the other objects.

The protective shield includes a casing member attached onto the cover member for covering and shielding the cover member. The protective shield includes a fastener attached to the cover member for engaging with the casing member and for coupling the casing member to the cover member. The protective shield includes a frame attached to the cover member for engaging with the fastener and for attaching the fastener to the cover member.

The luggage case includes at least one wheel attached to the cover member, and the casing member includes at least one orifice formed therein for receiving and engaging with the wheel and for allowing the wheel to be extended out of the casing member and for moving the luggage case to the other places.

The luggage case includes at least one foot pad attached to the cover member, and the casing member includes at least one aperture formed therein for receiving and engaging with the foot pad and for allowing the foot pad to be extended out of the casing member and for padding the luggage case.

The luggage case includes a hand grip attached to the cover member, and the casing member includes an opening formed therein for receiving and engaging with the hand grip and for allowing the hand grip to be extended out of the casing member and to be held or grasped by the users.

The luggage case includes a handle, and the casing member includes a channel formed therein for receiving and engaging with the handle and for allowing the handle to be extended out of the casing member. The casing member includes a fastener attached to the casing member for selectively opening and closing the channel of the casing member.

The protective shield includes a casing member attached onto the housing for covering and shielding the housing. The protective shield includes a fastener attached to the housing for engaging with the casing member and for coupling the casing member to the housing. The protective shield includes a frame attached to the housing for engaging with the fastener and for attaching the fastener to the housing.

The luggage case includes at least one wheel attached to the housing, and the casing member includes at least one orifice formed therein for receiving and engaging with the wheel and for allowing the wheel to be extended out of the casing member.

The luggage case includes at least one foot pad attached to the housing, and the casing member includes at least one aperture formed therein for receiving and engaging with the foot pad and for allowing the foot pad to be extended out of the casing member and for padding the luggage case.

The casing member includes four corner areas each having a fastener provided therein for forming or making the spatial or three dimensional structure of the casing member. The fasteners are preferably the stitches.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial exploded view of a suitcase or luggage case apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the suitcase or luggage case apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a side plan schematic view of the suitcase or luggage case apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional view of the suitcase or luggage case apparatus taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the operation of the suitcase or luggage case apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a plan schematic view illustrating the material for making or forming or manufacturing the protective shield of the suitcase or luggage case apparatus;

FIG. 7 is another plan schematic view similar to FIG. 6 illustrating the formation of the protective shield of the suitcase or luggage case apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the protective shield of the suitcase or luggage case apparatus; and

FIG. 9 is a partial exploded view illustrating the operation of the suitcase or luggage case apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a suitcase or luggage case apparatus 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a soft body luggage case 10 including a bottom enclosure or housing 11 having a chamber 12 formed therein (FIG. 4) for receiving or storing various objects therein (not shown), a lid or cover member 13 pivotally or rotatably attached to the housing 11 for opening the housing 11 and for entering into the interior storage space or chamber 12 of the housing 11, and a latch or lock or fastener 14, such as a zipper or slide fastener 14 disposed or provided between the housing 11 and the cover member 13 for closing or locking or fastening the cover member 13 to the housing 11 and closing the chamber 12 of the housing 11.

The luggage case 10 includes one or more hand grips 15 attached to the upper portion of the housing 11 or the cover member 13 for carrying or moving the luggage case 10, one or more wheels 16 attached to the bottom of the housing 11 and/or the cover member 13 for allowing the luggage case 10 to be moved to the other places, and a retractable handle 17 attached to the housing 11 or the cover member 13 of the luggage case 10 and extendible out of the upper portion of the luggage case 10 for further carrying or moving the luggage case 10 and for allowing the luggage case 10 to be easily carried and moved to the other places, and may further include one or more foot pads 18 attached to the housing 11 and/or the cover member 13. The above-described structure is typical and will not be described in further details.

The suitcase apparatus 1 in accordance with the present invention further comprises a protective shield 2 attached onto the outer peripheral portion of the luggage case 10 for suitably covering or shielding the outer peripheral portion of the luggage case 10 and for preventing the luggage case 10 from being contacted and scraped or rubbed or ground or damaged by the other objects. The protective shield 2 includes one or more (such as two) casing members 20, 21 attached onto the outer peripheral portion of the luggage case 10, such as attached onto the cover member 13 or the housing 11 of the luggage case 10 respectively for covering or shielding the outer peripheral portion of the cover member 13 or the housing 11 of the luggage case 10 respectively.

For example, the protective shield 2 includes one or more (such as two) latches or locks or fasteners 30, 31, such as a zippers or slide fasteners 30, 31 disposed or attached or mounted or secured onto the cover member 13 or the housing 11 of the luggage case 10 respectively for engaging with the casing members 20, 21 and for attaching or coupling the casing members 20, 21 to the cover member 13 or the housing 11 of the luggage case 10 respectively and for selectively covering or shielding the cover member 13 or the housing 11 of the luggage case 10 respectively. It is preferable that the protective shield 2 further includes one or more (such as two) rings or frames 32, 33 disposed or attached or mounted or secured onto the cover member 13 or the housing 11 of the luggage case 10 respectively.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the fasteners 30, 31 may be engaged with or attached or mounted or secured onto the cover member 13 or the housing 11 of the luggage case 10 with the frames 32, 33 respectively for solidly attaching or mounting or securing the fasteners 30, 31 to the cover member 13 or the housing 11 of the luggage case 10 and for detachably attaching or mounting or coupling the casing members 20, 21 to the cover member 13 or the housing 11 of the luggage case 10 respectively, and for allowing the casing members 20, 21 to be easily and quickly changed or replaced with the new ones when or after the casing member(s) 20, 21 has or have been worn out or scraped or damaged.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 8-9, the casing members 20, 21 each may include one or more orifices 22 formed in the bottom portion thereof for receiving or engaging with the wheels 16 respectively and for allowing the wheels 16 to be extended out of the casing members 20, 21 respectively, and each may further include one or more apertures 23 formed therein for receiving or engaging with the foot pads 18 respectively and for allowing the foot pads 18 to be extended out of the casing members 20, 21 respectively, and the casing members 20 may further include an opening 24 formed therein for receiving or engaging with the hand grip 15 and for allowing the hand grip 15 to be extended out of the casing member 20 and for allowing the hand grip 15 to be held or grasped or operated by the users.

The casing members 20 may further include a slot or channel 25 formed therein for receiving or engaging with the handle 17 and for allowing the retractable handle 17 to be selectively extended out of the casing member 20 and for allowing the retractable handle 17 to be held or grasped or operated by the users, and may further include a further latch or lock or fastener 34, such as a zipper or slide fastener 34 disposed or attached or mounted or secured onto the casing member 20 for selectively opening or closing the channel 25 of the casing member 20 and for selectively covering or shielding and protecting the retractable handle 17 within the casing member 20.

As shown in FIGS. 6-8, the casing members 20, 21 each may be made or formed or manufactured from a planar sheet member 200 as shown in FIG. 6, and the planar sheet member 200 may include four corner areas 26 cut off or folded (FIG. 7), and then folded and/or secured together with latches or locks or fasteners 27, such as the stitches 27 for forming or making the spatial or three dimensional structure of the casing members 20, 21 respectively (FIG. 8) and for allowing the casing members 20, 21 to be easily and quickly and changeably attached onto the outer peripheral portion of the cover member 13 or the housing 11 of the luggage case 10 respectively.

In operation, as shown in FIG. 5, the fastener 34 may selectively open the channel 25 of the casing member 20 for allowing the retractable handle 17 to be selectively extended out of the casing member 20 and for allowing the retractable handle 17 to be held or grasped or operated by the users and for allowing the luggage case 10 to be easily carried and moved to the other places. As shown in FIG. 9, the casing members 20, 21 may be easily and quickly changed or replaced with the new ones when or after the casing member(s) 20, 21 has or have been worn out or scraped or damaged. The protective shield 2 may include only the casing member 20 for covering or shielding the outer peripheral portion of the cover member 13, or may include only the casing member 21 for covering or shielding the outer peripheral portion of the housing 11 of the luggage case 10.

Accordingly, the suitcase or luggage case apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a protective shield attached onto the outer peripheral portion of the suitcase or luggage case for suitably covering or shielding the suitcase or luggage case and for preventing the suitcase or luggage case from being scraped or rubbed or ground or damaged by the other objects and for allowing the protective shield to be easily and quickly changed or replaced with the new ones when or after the protective shield has been worn out or scraped or damaged.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A suitcase apparatus comprising: a luggage case including a housing having a chamber formed therein, and having a cover member pivotally attached to said housing, and a protective shield attached onto an outer peripheral portion of said luggage case for covering and shielding said luggage case and for preventing said luggage case from being scraped and damaged.
 2. The suitcase apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protective shield includes a casing member attached onto said cover member for covering and shielding said cover member.
 3. The suitcase apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said protective shield includes a fastener attached to said cover member for engaging with said casing member and for coupling said casing member to said cover member.
 4. The suitcase apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said protective shield includes a frame attached to said cover member for engaging with said fastener and for attaching said fastener to said cover member.
 5. The suitcase apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said luggage case includes at least one wheel attached to said cover member, and said casing member includes at least one orifice formed therein for receiving and engaging with said at least one wheel and for allowing said at least one wheel to be extended out of said casing member.
 6. The suitcase apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said luggage case includes at least one foot pad attached to said cover member, and said casing member includes at least one aperture formed therein for receiving and engaging with said at least one foot pad and for allowing said at least one foot pad to be extended out of said casing member.
 7. The suitcase apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said luggage case includes a hand grip attached to said cover member, and said casing member includes an opening formed therein for receiving and engaging with said hand grip and for allowing said hand grip to be extended out of said casing member.
 8. The suitcase apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said luggage case includes a handle, and said casing member includes a channel formed therein for receiving and engaging with said handle and for allowing said handle to be extended out of said casing member.
 9. The suitcase apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said casing member includes a fastener attached to said casing member for selectively opening and closing said channel of said casing member.
 10. The suitcase apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protective shield includes a casing member attached onto said housing for covering and shielding said housing.
 11. The suitcase apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said protective shield includes a fastener attached to said housing for engaging with said casing member and for coupling said casing member to said housing.
 12. The suitcase apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said protective shield includes a frame attached to said housing for engaging with said fastener and for attaching said fastener to said housing.
 13. The suitcase apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said luggage case includes at least one wheel attached to said housing, and said casing member includes at least one orifice formed therein for receiving and engaging with said at least one wheel and for allowing said at least one wheel to be extended out of said casing member.
 14. The suitcase apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said luggage case includes at least one foot pad attached to said housing, and said casing member includes at least one aperture formed therein for receiving and engaging with said at least one foot pad and for allowing said at least one foot pad to be extended out of said casing member.
 15. The suitcase apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said casing member includes four corner areas each having a fastener provided therein.
 16. The suitcase apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said fasteners are stitches. 